Telecommunications Act 1984

59 Entry and search of premises

(1) If a justice of the peace is satisfied by information on oath—

(a) that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that an offence under section 57 above has been, or is being, committed; and

(b) that evidence of the commission of the offence is to be found on any premises specified in the information,

he may grant a search warrant conferring power on any person or persons authorised in that behalf by the Secretary of State and named in the warrant to enter and search the premises specified in the information at any time within one month from the date of the warrant.

(2) A person who intentionally obstructs a person in the exercise of powers conferred on him under this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(3) A person who discloses, otherwise than for the purposes of this Part or of a report of proceedings under it, any information obtained by means of an exercise of powers conferred by this section, being information relating to a manufacturing process or trade secret, shall be guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.

(4) In the application of this section to Scotland, for the reference to a justice of the peace there shall be substituted a reference to the sheriff and for any reference to information on oath there shall be substituted a reference to evidence on oath.

(5) In the application of this section to Northern Ireland, for the reference to a justice of the peace there shall be substituted a reference to a resident magistrate and for any reference to information on oath there shall be substituted a reference to complaint on oath.